Milton appoints economic development manager

William O’Connor has decorated 45-year career in local government

MILTON, Ga. – Milton just hired its first economic development manager.

City Manager Chris Lagerbloom announced Jan. 17 the appointment of Milton resident William O’Connor to the newly created position.

O’Connor, an architect by trade, brings to Milton more than 45 years of diverse, public sector experience. He most recently served as the director of the Department of Environmental Services in Arlington County, Va., before moving to Milton to be closer to family.

At Milton, O’Connor will act as a link between the city’s business community and its government. Just days into the job, he has already started to build relationships with the city’s business leaders while addressing Milton’s vacant commercial property.

“We are lucky to have found a person of Bill’s track record and ability to help support the City Council in our re-energized effort to brand Milton as a ‘business friendly’ community,” said Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood.

Lagerbloom said O’Connor was a perfect fit for Milton because of his impressive career. Prior to his position in Virginia, O’Connor served 10 years as a deputy commissioner in the New York State Office of General Services. A native of upstate New York, his local government experience includes stints as chair of the town planning board, chair of the zoning board of appeals, president of the Averill Park Board of Education, chair of the Hudson Valley Community College Board of Trustees and chair of the Rensselaer County Planning Federation. He was also a member of the Rensselaer Columbia Greene Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the Rensselaer County Board of Ethics and the Rensselaer County Industrial Development Agency.

“Bill O’Connor has, over his career, demonstrated excellent vision and an outstanding ability to bring diverse groups of people together to move things forward and get things done,” said Lagerbloom. “His extensive experience in working with staff, citizens, advisory bodies, elected officials, developers and the business community will serve him well in Milton.”

O’Connor served as a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vietnam and holds a master’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in business administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. He and his wife, Anne, are residents of Milton and live in the White Columns neighborhood.